Sydney: A Week With Ultimate Oz

Sydney: A Week With Ultimate Oz

Since graduating University travelling has always been on the cards. Something I have always wanted to do. However I wasn’t brave enough to do it all by myself, so I decided to head online and do some research regarding travel company’s. This is where I discovered Ultimate Oz. For the people that haven’t heard about Ultimate, they are a company that gives you brilliant opportunities around the world and also there for you 24/7 if you need a helping hand, before and after arriving to your chosen destination. It was a week in Sydney (Sunday to Sunday) with a tour guide and a fun filled itinerary set up for us for the week. To me this sounded perfect, especially it being my first real big adventure. With that me and my fiancé Kai agreed on how perfect it was for us and we went ahead with it. One of the main reasons we went for this package is because it included so many things that would be so helpful to us once arriving in the country.

For example:

Working Holiday Visa

Set Up A Bank Account

Accommodation For The 8 Nights In A Chosen Hostel

Tax File Number

Australian Sim Card

Free Access to TAW (job site)

Free Application For RSA

24/7 Help

Arrival Dinner and Drinks

Guided Tours Around Sydney CBD

A Variety Of Activities

Before heading out to Australia we were given a buddy list (a list of names that were on our group). This gave us time before arriving to talk to the other members to get to know one another. I thought this was a brilliant idea, as you get to talk to them, ask them questions about travelling and then you start to learn that you are not the only one scared, worried and clueless. Lets be honest if you have never done anything like this before that’s exactly how you feel, well I did but don’t let that put you off.

To me the package was amazing and included everything and if not more than what we could have asked for. That’s why I want to share this experience with you so you can get a sense of being there yourselves. Its a company I would highly recommend and I want to encourage other travellers that are like me to think about using them in the near future.

‘Itinerary For The Week’

Sunday 5th July 2015

The big day of arriving in this amazing place, Sydney. Today was spent getting over jetlag (traveling from England is a very long flight) settling in to our room for the next few days and meeting up with the guys from our group to introduce ourselves to one another.

Monday 6th July 2015

The Harbour Bridge

Botanic Gardens

Today started at 10:30am with a brief information session this included, meeting our tour guides for the week, the group, sim card and bank account set up. Once complete we headed into the hustle and bustle of Sydney’s CBD for a city tour. This involved a walk along the darling harbour, picturesque views of the iconic opera house and the harbour bridge then finished with the peaceful scenery of the botanic gardens and hyde park. A question I found myself asking is how can something so beautiful and peaceful be right next to a city? The Botanic gardens were stunning the perfect spot to escape the city rush, read a book, enjoy a picnic or just to relax at absolute tranquillity. A must if your in Sydney.

Tuesday 7th July 2015

9:30am start with a work and travel information session. This was very helpful to decided our next step once the week was up. Before arriving in Sydney me and Kai were adamant that we would just go straight into working, but after that discussion it was travel, travel, travel. The discussion opened us up to so many things we didn’t know and made the unknown so much more easier to conquer. The afternoon was spent on a catamaran on the darling harbour with a barbeque, aussie style. Now I must say there is no better view of the city, opera house or harbour bridge than being on water. Seeing it from a different perspective, this was home for the next 12 months.

Opera House and Harbour Bridge view from sea

Wednesday 8th July 2015

Kai, Me and Josie

Today we headed up north to catch a bus to Port Stephensfor base camp for the next two days. Melaleuca Backpackers is where we stayed. The rooms were cabins in between woods it was truly magical. The owners gave us a safety talk regarding the spiders, snakes and possums we may find whilst staying there. This put us all on edge but once we came to terms that we are in Australia and that we were bound to see them sometime or another we all became at ease. The owners had a resident kangaroo named Josie, it was incredible to see her just roaming around and not being on edge due to us all being mesmerised by her. Yes she loves a selfie, so a great opportunity to get a photo with her.

Thursday 9th July 2015

6:00am start. Now I haven’t seen these hours since leaving work however the wildlife and the sun beaming through the trees made it that little bit easier. Off in a 4wd and headed toWorimi Conservation Lands. Once arriving we were surrounded by sand dunes, sand boarding commenced and I just found myself standing there admiring the endless view of sand dunes that seemed to go on forever. With the sun shining down it just made everything so magical, the crisp air, sparkling sand, everyone care free it was such a warm feeling. Where had this warm feeling been? I don’t know where but I can sure tell you how to get it. Let yourself out of your comfort zone into the unknown once in a while and if it is meant to be, your feel it.

Sand Boarding in the Dunes

In the afternoon we headed to Tomaree National Park. The drive to the start of the park was along side Shoal Bay Beach surrounded by a beach town. Once we began our climb to the top and stopping every second to have a glimpse through the trees at the view I realised that once arriving at the top we were in for a surprise. Once at the top, I was speechless for two reasons, one because it had tired me out and two because the views were just out of this world. This place keeps on surprising me. In such a little time of being on this wonderful island I had realised my life back home was so sheltered. Nothing will ever compare to this experience and it will only ever get better, promise.

Tomaree National Park

The evening was spent with a barbeque and a camp fire on one mile beach. I have never been on a beach in the dark before and I ask myself why not? Its magical, the sound of the sea meeting the sand, the warmth of the fire, the sky full of stars that lite it up in such a way. I love being out in such an open place, the perfect way to appreciate gods talents.

Camp Fire

Friday 10th July 2015

Australian Flag Flying High on The Cruise

Our last day at beach camp so we headed to the docks for our dolphin cruise. Now dolphins are one of my favourite animals so I was super excited. There is something about being out at sea that puts me at such ease, maybe its because I am an Aquarius who knows. It was a beautiful day for a cruise, calm waters, sun shining however being out at sea for an hour or so, no dolphins were spotted which was disappointing. We did see a turtle when it come up for air, he was huge and something I never thought I would see whilst out here. I thought they were only animals you would see if you went to an aquarium or the zoo, the sea and below is truly secretive and surprising. It was then time to head home via train which was a very long journey.Once back in the city it was time to check in and chill for the activities that lay ahead for the next couple of days.

Saturday 11th July 2015

Late morning we jumped on the bus 373 from Central heading to Coogee. Once at Coogee we started our walk to Bondi.

The Famous Bondi Beach

The famous coastal walk, and I know exactly why. Its beautiful, every single beach you walk pass has its

Coogee to Bondi Walk

own touch, personality and atmosphere. The eastern suburbs is full of beaches next to one another and not one is the same. They all have something to offer, whether its sunbathing, snorkelling, surfing or swimming. They cater for everyone’s needs and that is what you discover on this beautiful coastal walk. Whilst walking along the rocks we were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins making there way up the coast, this definitely made up for not seeing them on the cruise. Arriving at Bondi Beach I couldn’t believe it, we were standing next to the famous beach that is always on the telly and is forever spoken about when Sydney is mentioned. I just had this sense of wellbeing that we had made it, we were here, in Sydney, in Australia.

An organized bar crawl by the guys themselves Ultimate, what a way to finish the week. For you backpackers out there that love a good drink, live music, dancing or just letting your hair down then head to these locations because your be in for a good night.

Scruffy Murphy’s

Scubar

Side Bar

Home Bar

An excellent way to end the week with people that were strangers which are now practically family. One thing I will say is you will never have truer friends then the friends you meet travelling. They open up your beliefs, lifestyle and habits and in just little time they know a lot about you and don’t judge you for your past whether you like it or not. Now to me that’s pretty impressive and friends worth keeping.

My Ultimate Oz Family

Sunday 12th July 2015

A day just to sit back and relax, and it was definitely needed after a fun filled week. It was time to start planning our next step and it was just so leading us to the East Coast.

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maireadandapenn

Hey I'm Mairead. I am a 23 year old from England. I have been living in Australia, Sydney since July 2015. Since being here I have travelled the East Coast, explored Sydney and have plans to travel the great ocean road and New Zealand. Head over to my blog, maireadandapenn.com to find out more.